Time to pick themselves up...

[Suitanim]

Dust themselves off, and collect themselves. Yeah, we lost a close one, but it's a bye week, and we need to stay focused on the goal. Take the extra week and get everybody healthy for the 13 game stretch run. Remember, NE lost the battle last year, but ultimately won the War, and now we need to do the same.

The defensive collapse is disturbing, and NE moved the ball too easily. Better execution and cripser play is needed for the rest of the season. Overall, though, I think the defense will be fine.

The offense is a different story...there needs to be some changes. I'm concerned because NE just gave the rest of the NFL the gameplan to shut our O down. Personell doesn't even matter, since the Pats were short handed, meaning probably any team can execute the plan just as well or maybe better. They stuffed 10 in box, shut down the run, and pressured Ben into making mistakes. Considering how depleted their secondary was, that philosophy should have created all kinds of mismatches for us to exploit, but it didn't work that way. The WR's need to work on hot route running, coming back to the ball when Ben scrambles, and Ben needs to work on making faster reads and a quicker release.

Bottom line: Both teams played sloppy football, and the Pats pulled it together when it counted and we did not. Hopefully this was our "Ugly Game" and we got it out of our systems...But one game does not the season make.

[SteelersWyo]

Biggest problem in that game was Randel EL making a stupid play trying to lateral to Ward. That dumb @ss move took points off the board. It was early in the game, but it was easy filed goal territory, maybe even a touchdown. If I remember right the score was 10-7 Steelers or similar. An extra 3-7 points right then would have been just what they needed. Instead the Steelers ended up with nothing. Sure the defense could not stop the pass all day, but having more points on the board never hurt!!

[Suitanim]

Well, the game is over, and we can't change anything that happened yesterday, but we CAN fix things going forward. I don't anticipate seeing ARE ever lateral the ball again...

[Livinginthe past]

All very true Suitanim - this game feels huge right now, but that feeling will dwindle as the weeks pass.

There is alot to happen between now and the playoffs - but I am still of the opinion that the Steelers one dimensional attack leads to a 'dribble down' effect to the rest of your game.

Over reliance on the run, especially one 1st and 2nd down, led to way too many 3 and outs, leading to just over 40% T.O.P for what is essentially a ball control offense.

This, in turn, led to an aggresive D spending too much time on the field and being out on their legs by the time the 4th quarter rolled around.

Unfortunately for the Steelers it seems their very identity is defined by this run first strategy - it may work against the lesser teams - but more times than not you will be found out in the big game.

Im sure we will see you in the playoffs.

Cheers

NM

[Livinginthe past]

Originally Posted by SteelersWyo

Biggest problem in that game was Randel EL making a stupid play trying to lateral to Ward. That dumb @ss move took points off the board. It was early in the game, but it was easy filed goal territory, maybe even a touchdown. If I remember right the score was 10-7 Steelers or similar. An extra 3-7 points right then would have been just what they needed. Instead the Steelers ended up with nothing. Sure the defense could not stop the pass all day, but having more points on the board never hurt!!

Ill take your boneheaded lateral play...and ill RAISE you two turnovers by the Patriots inside the 10 yard line - blaming this all on one bonehead play is just the sign of a Steeler fan burying his head in the sand...the problems go deeper than that one play.

Seems talk of injuries is not allowed - but we did lose our most important o-lineman and our defensive captain - and we still got it done - the Steelers should have been able to capitalise.

Cheers

NM

[Suitanim]

My point is this: If the Steelers continue to play like they did yesterday, they will be losing a lot more games this year, regardless of their philosophy. They need to regroup and refocus, and keep their eye on the prize. The Pats game is over, and all they can do is learn from it and move on...

I will say this for the Pats though...they look like they found this years team identity in the 4th Qtr of yesterday's game, and if they continue to play like THAT, they are going to win a lot more games than I thought they'd be capable of...and it hurts me to say that...

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Livinginthe past

Ill take your boneheaded lateral play...and ill RAISE you two turnovers by the Patriots inside the 10 yard line - blaming this all on one bonehead play is just the sign of a Steeler fan burying his head in the sand...the problems go deeper than that one play.

Seems talk of injuries is not allowed - but we did lose our most important o-lineman and our defensive captain - and we still got it done - the Steelers should have been able to capitalise.

Cheers

NM

im suprised they didnt capitalize either. they said after the game they didnt even try to they just stuck with the original gameplan, whereas last year when law got injured they immediately attacked r. gay for 2 quick strike td's. steelers lb's were a little spent on the final drive and faulk seemed to have some fresher legs. it would be nice to see adam miss one of those kicks though.

[SteelersWyo]

Big difference in the turn overs, Patsy Fan. The Steelers D "took" the ball away from the Pats. Randel El made a stupid play that "gave" the ball to the Pats. When you toss a live ball in the air for some one to grab that is a stupid play that should never have happened. Your two turn overs inside the 10 were due to the Steelers D going after that ball. Big Difference.

-Head in the sand Steelers Fan

[Livinginthe past]

Originally Posted by SteelersWyo

Big difference in the turn overs, Patsy Fan. The Steelers D "took" the ball away from the Pats. Randel El made a stupid play that "gave" the ball to the Pats. When you toss a live ball in the air for some one to grab that is a stupid play that should never have happened. Your two turn overs inside the 10 were due to the Steelers D going after that ball. Big Difference.

-Head in the sand Steelers Fan

I have to disagree - sure it always nicer to 'take' the ball but a turnover is not worth any more or less either way.

The facts are the Steelers had 3 turnovers to the Pats 1 and should have made something of them - they didnt and thats why they lost.

Having said all this, the Patriots are still along way from where they will want to be come post-season - still way too many mistakes and penalities.

Cheers

NM

[ironcitychef]

I tend to see us of having done something with those turnovers. You either have to score yourself or stop someone from scoring. The fact the two were in the redzone shows we did keep at least 14 points of their board. To say we should of scored 14 off of those against NE is absurd. Game would have been out of control had they scored on those. Agrre though, we just need to evaluate ourselves and forget who we played, rest, and then take on the next team.